Warehouse District – 3:05 AM
Theo's breath was steady, but his grip on the gun was anything but. His mind refused to process what was right in front of him.
Evelyn stood frozen beside him, her pulse hammering in her ears.
Because the figure smirking at them from the shadows was—
Ethan.
The same Ethan who had warned them about Kade.
The same Ethan who had stood by their side all these years.
Evelyn's stomach churned. "No… You're lying."
But Ethan only chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, Evelyn. I thought you were smarter than that."
Theo's jaw clenched. "You were working with Kade this whole time?"
Ethan tilted his head. "You still think Kade was running the show?"
Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath. "Then who—"
Ethan smirked. "I told you before, didn't I? There's always someone bigger."
Theo took a step forward, his voice dangerously low. "Who are you working for?"
Ethan sighed dramatically. "Now, now, Theo. If I told you, where would the fun be in that?"
Theo's patience snapped. He lunged, grabbing Ethan by the collar and slamming him against the wall.
Ethan just laughed.
"You never saw it coming, did you?" Ethan whispered, his voice taunting. "You were too busy trying to figure out Kade. Too busy being distracted by other… things."
Theo's grip tightened. He didn't need to ask what Ethan meant.
His mind flashed back to every moment he had spent with Evelyn. The stolen glances. The tension. The way he had pulled away when they had almost—
Theo's stomach twisted.
This wasn't the time to think about that.
Ethan's smirk widened as if he could read Theo's mind. "You were always predictable."
Theo's fist crashed into Ethan's jaw.
Ethan's head snapped to the side, but his smirk never faltered. Instead, he spit out blood and grinned. "Hit a nerve?"
Evelyn grabbed Theo's arm. "Theo, don't. He's stalling."
Theo exhaled sharply, his muscles tense, but he let go.
Ethan wiped his lip, looking almost amused. "She's right. I am stalling."
Theo's stomach dropped.
Before he could react—
The warehouse lights exploded.
A deafening noise filled the air as gunshots rang out.
Theo grabbed Evelyn, pulling her behind cover. "Stay down!"
Ethan had disappeared into the chaos.
Theo cursed under his breath, scanning the area. The warehouse was suddenly filled with masked men, all armed.
A trap.
Ethan had led them straight into a setup.
Evelyn's breathing was quick, but she kept her gun steady. "We can't stay here."
Theo's mind raced. He needed a plan—fast.
But first—
He turned to Evelyn, cupping her face for just a second. "Stay close to me, okay?"
Evelyn nodded, her eyes wide.
Theo's thumb brushed against her cheek—just once—before he let go.
Then, with one final glance, they both surged forward into the fight.
---
Warehouse Escape
Theo's heart pounded as he fired his last bullet, dropping the final attacker in their path.
They didn't have time to count bodies. Didn't have time to question how deep this conspiracy ran.
They only had time to run.
Evelyn was breathing hard beside him, her clothes torn, a small cut on her forehead. But her eyes burned with determination.
They reached the car, slamming the doors shut.
Theo's knuckles were white against the wheel. "We're not going home."
Evelyn turned to him. "Then where?"
Theo's jaw tightened.
"To find Kade."
Because if there was one person who knew how deep this went—
It was him.
---
End of Chapter 40